Pa. cafeteria workers waive gambling-fueled case

CHARLEROI, Pa.—Two former western Pennsylvania school cafeteria workers have acknowledged gambling away nearly $94,000 one of them stole from the school from August 2010 through October.

Attorneys for 50-year-old Stacy Lee Shipley and 49-year-old Sheila Ann Cook say both women are remorseful and working to repay the money stolen from Charleroi High School-Middle School.

The attorneys made those comments as the women waived a preliminary hearing on theft-related charges Monday.

Investigators say Shipley stole the money when students paid cash for lunches and agreed to share it with Cook when they played slot machines and agreed to split their winnings at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino.

Cook didn't steal the money, but knew where it came from while she was gambling with it.

Police say Cook told them she "just got caught up in the thrill of it all."